Dropped the Savage Off for Repairs

meketrefe · Oct 19, 2016

I know it is scary and dangerous. It should never fire when in safe though. did it fire with the safe on?
It should be fairly simple. There is a screw and spring that controls the tension on the trigger sear.
Unless the sear is in bad shape it could be that the screw somehow got loose. they are locktited from
factory so maybe somehow got too loose after adjustment??
Anyway, you did the right thing leaving that to a professional. It should not take long and they must just replace
the entire trigger group. Many times they do not take the time to repair small parts, they just replace the
entire module/unit.

Criticalt · Oct 19, 2016

That is some scary stuff.
Im happy nobody got injured.

pseudonymity · Oct 19, 2016

IMO that gun should go directly back to Savage and you should have a complete replacement, not repairs. Something is very wrong with the striker/trigger interface if it can fire without the trigger being pulled.

Did you buy the gun new or used? If it is used there is a possibility that somebody did a really poor job of trigger work and messed with the engagement surfaces.

meketrefe · Oct 19, 2016

I am with you.
Very rare but it happens. I think Savage most likely wants that rifle back.

meketrefe · Oct 19, 2016

I still think most likely is a very simple thing, still extremely important and it needs to be done before handling the rifle again.

meketrefe · Oct 19, 2016

swilliams said:
Crap. Should I call the gunsmith tomorrow and see if the store can send it?

Call savage directly. They might take care of everything for you. I don't know about rifles. I only sent one bolt handle (just a small machine imperfection) a long time ago
and they sent me an entire brand new bolt with a thank you note for letting them know.
Remington was also pretty responsive during the recall. I have 17 R700 rifles and 5 were affected by the recall. It took them a while but they took care of it too.
Same experiences with RCBS, Hornady and Midway as a retailer. Amazing customer service.
No so good with FN and Beretta. They left me in the dark for months. If one is military or LEO FN will suck dick but when one comes as a civilian then embrace the pain.

You will not know if you don't ask right?

Is this the only firearm you have to hunt this season? ... you should also mention that to them if that is the case.

Snappo · Oct 19, 2016

swilliams said:
I have the Trophy Hunter youth model. Twice, the gun has discharged without me pulling the trigger. I've got the trigger set light - roughly 4-5 lbs, but I can't be too sure since I don't have an accurate way of measuring. In any case, it's something that scared the crap out of me.

I finally got around to dropping it off today to have it looked at, so I figured I'd post here, then let you all know what the gunsmith found once I pick it up. He didn't give me an indication of when I'd have it back, but as long as I have it before deer hunt, all is good.

1) Get a trigger pull scale for cheap at Midway USA. The Wheeler is $19.
2) 4-5 lbs isn't light. Light is like 1.5 to 3 lbs.
3) You went to local gunsmith? Savage will take it back and do the work in their factory for free.

Robin · Oct 20, 2016

Geeze S, I didn't realize you had such a hair trigger!
Robin

meketrefe · Oct 20, 2016

are you the original owner? How long since you have the rifle?

pseudonymity · Oct 20, 2016

swilliams said:
I called Savage this morning. The woman I spoke to said their warranty is one year for the original owner. She either didn't have any knowledge of what would be covered outside the original warranty, or they won't cover it. She also said their turn around time is three weeks. Add a couple weeks shipping back and forth, and I'm not going to have it for hunting.

That is flat out amazing - the person you spoke to knew that the rifle clearly discharges without the trigger being pulled? Make no mistake your rifle is a seven figure liability suit against Savage just waiting to happen.

If I worked for the legal or management team at Savage I would crawl across broken glass to get that rifle back to the factory to see what the problem is.

meketrefe · Oct 20, 2016

pseudonymity said:
That is flat out amazing - the person you spoke to knew that the rifle clearly discharges without the trigger being pulled? Make no mistake your rifle is a seven figure liability suit against Savage just waiting to happen.

If I worked for the legal or management team at Savage I would crawl across broken glass to get that rifle back to the factory to see what the problem is.

That is what I am thinking. If it was me I would call again and if the same lady answers then ask for a manager or supervisor.
Who knows sometimes she is there to cover temporarily for someone on sick or maternity leave.

Deplorable Me · Oct 24, 2016

Has Savage weighed in on the malfunction? Next time you're at the range, see if someone can video your hand in the trigger area going through 4-5 rounds relatively fast.

Go thru a dry-fire scenario working the action and doing the same video. No ammo for 20 miles.

Robin · Oct 24, 2016

Well that just plain sucks!!!! You definitely want to have confidence in the safety of your weapon. I'm not familiar with the Savage trigger assembly, but I'll assume it can be removed as a modular unit for inspection and functionality. So, upon his inspection out of the gun it performs as designed, what about the stock or receiver, is their an anomaly with one or both of these parts that inadvertently affects something in the trigger assembly. That should also be looked at. Then there is the possibility that an exorcism is required, which might require a Bishop, maybe even a Cardinal!

Good luck, not knowing sucks.
Robin

meketrefe · Oct 24, 2016

The fact that "this gunsmith" din't find anything it does not mean there is not a problem.
You didn't imagine anything. You know that.

Most likely a few of us here could debug the problem but I understand not everyone has the experience with the action nor tools so as
any other firearm owner, this is what I would do:

- I would not operate this rifle. I would hunt with your husband's 308. There are reduced white tail loads and 130gr
hunting loads that are perfect for white tail.

- Document what happened. Put a date and place on it and what you were doing and how the rifle discharged w/o you pulling
the trigger. Ask you husband to do the same whit his event. It should not take more than one page. If you don't remember
the date put aproxímate date. Don't over explain, just get to the point and explain how the rifle went
off by itself. I am going to assume you have the standard trigger group and nobody has touched or "adjusted"
the trigger group.

- I would call Savage and if you get the lady again ask for a Manager or Supervisor. Write their name down. Tell them you
are a loyal Savage customer and you have a rifle barely used that fires by itself and you are afraid for you and others safety.
Ask for an name and address to send the rifle along with a detailed note explained what happened.(your one page document).
They should take the rifle and it will take a couple or three weeks to get it back. Don't be impatient. Patience is a good thing.

Even if you are not happy with the rifle you got be very polite and courteous and don't get into discussions about warranties
or any other arguments. It is their product and it is not safe. Write the name and title of every person you talk to and the date/time.

If they dismiss you in any shape or form tell them you are contacting the legal department that most likely will not be needed.
Don't do it by phone. Write them a letter.

.
.
.

You will not need these with Savage but in any case or even for any other situations and FYI...

- Find the legal department and an address and ideally a name (look for the general counsel in linkedin) and send
a fedex overnight with a letter attaching the events. Tell them that you expect an answer by date (D) and if you don't hear
from them will be given a call. Mark the date in your calendar and follow through if you don't hear a name.

- If you don't hear from them then send them another letter and email with your request and this time tell them
that if you don't hear from them you will go public into the Savage forums and other places with your problem and
seek legal counseling on the matter. This could also be done by follow up email to legal.
You don't want to spend a lot of time or money and if you have a friend who is a lawyer have them send the
letter with their signature.
It is all about being polite and unhappy customer. Lawyers love that to show their CS they cannot have this type
of things in their organizations.

..my 2 pesos

Acer-m14 · Oct 27, 2016

break down the rifle .. get the stock off it .. i think its just 2 screws .. with only the barrel assembly in hand .. drop the bolt .. with safty on and with safty off .. wack that thing with a rubber hammer ... listen for the dry fire click ... wack it good .. if pass then drop it on the floor from like 3 feet .. check ..

Acer-m14 · Oct 27, 2016

@meketrefe I think they only have 2 rifles ... his and hers .. with out hers they can't hunt as a team .. sure she could spot and all that .. but two is more fun

...

Acer-m14 · Oct 27, 2016

kind of boring but watch the whole thing .. or jump to the 5 minute mark ... the Savage Trigger ..

Acer-m14 · Oct 27, 2016

I have 2 savages 11 .223 and Axis .270 with that trigger .. and have worked it down to 3.6lbs .. i smack the crap out of it to check .. assemble the rifle and smack the butt on the floor .. then check if it went off .. thankfully my learning trigger jobs passed the test ..

wish you luck and hope you can get out there hunting ...

Acer-m14 · Nov 1, 2016

@swilliams any updates ... have you been out shooting it .. ?

FRANKIE · Nov 1, 2016

I definitely would call this a job for Savage. The fact that I have never heard of any bad reports like these with these rifles. The accu-trigger was actually designed to prevent such things, The fact that a competent and licensed gunsmith
looked at it and saw nothing wrong, makes me say Savage more so. Why put yourself through all the trouble. Regardless if the safety was on or off, position, weight of trigger pull, or circumstances that led to the AD, that rifle should only fire when the trigger is pulled. Be safe and send it back.
Provided the circumstances, I guarantee you Savage will be very interested in correcting this problem.

Acer-m14 · Nov 2, 2016

ahh you have the accu trigger .. the vid is on the older trigger but could give you some insight ... i'm sure there some vids on utube for your trigger ..

good luck ..

Dropped the Savage Off for Repairs

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